WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Junior right fielder Ryan Lukach finished with two hits, a triple and a two-run home run, leading the University of Hartford baseball team in a 10-4 loss to the visiting Quinnipiac Bobcats on Wednesday afternoon. Hartford falls to 17-11 overall in 2014 while the Bobcats improve to 9-16.

Lukach's two hits were part of 10 total for the home team with shortstop Trey Stover and left fielder Adam Touhey joining him with two each to lead the team. First baseman Brady Sheetz and catcher Billy Walker also joined Lukach recording the Hawks additional RBI's. Sheetz also added one of the remaining four hits for Hartford.

On the hill, Hawks starter Brian Stepniak suffered the loss in his first decision as a collegiate pitcher. The right handed rookie pitched 5-1/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits with no walks and one strikeout. Austin Barnes and Ryan Carter each saw time as middle relievers with Barnes giving up two runs, one earned and Carter getting tagged with three runs, one earned. The appearance for Carter was his second in as many days as he earned the victory in Tuesday's home win over Sacred Heart.

Justin Robarge closed out the game for Hartford, pitching the final 1-2/3 innings allowing one earned run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Quinnipiac starter Matthew Lorenzetti earned the victory for the visitors while Matthew Osieja earned a three-inning save.

Hartford struck first against the Bobcats with a single run in the bottom of the second. Lukach opened up that innings with a triple down the right field line in his first at bat of the afternoon. He would score two batters later thanks to Walker who sacrificed himself on a fly ball to right field.

The Bobcats answered that run quickly tying the game in the top of the third inning before Hartford responded by taking its largest lead of the game at 3-1. Both runs, which came in the bottom of the third, were credit to Lukach who drove in Touhey, who doubled to reach, with his second hit in as many innings, this time sailing a ball over the fence in right field with two outs.

The Hawks only other run came in the seventh inning as a leadoff double from Dalton Ruch paid off when he was driven home by Sheetz who singled to centerfield. Quinnipiac put the game out of reach scoring nine runs in the final four innings of the game.

Hartford returns to the field for a three-game non-league series against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights this coming weekend. The set will feature three single games beginning with a 3 p.m. first pitch on Friday afternoon at Bainton Field. Saturday and Sunday's games are both scheduled for 1 p.m. starts.